Quality by design approach for formulation development and evaluation of carboplatin loaded ethylcellulose nanosponges

Nanosponges, porous nanocarriers were explored for encapsulation of carboplatin by employing a quality by design approach. Nanosponges were prepared by double emulsion solvent evaporation using the central composite design. Ethylcellulose, 450 mg, polyvinyl alcohol, 2.3% (w/v) and phase evaporation rate, 760 rpm yielded the optimized spherical particles of size 272.92 ± 12.31 nm, PDI 0.390, with zeta charge of −22.3 mV. The entrapment efficiency of carboplatin-loaded nanosponges was 56.27 ± 2.52%. A sustained carboplatin release of 79.03% and 95.94% within 12 h at pH 4.5 and 6.8, respectively suggested that nanosponges could be promising carriers for sustained release of hydrophilic therapeutic candidates.